Form-lifting mechanism



Feb. 1927.

R. J. SIMS FORM LIFTING MECHANISM Original FiledDec. 0. 1925 Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

noBE'R'T slits, or srorznnn, WASHINGTON.

Foam-mauve ivrncnzinrsivr.

Application filed December 30, 1925, Serial No. 78,344.

My present invention relates to improvements in form lifting mechanism adapted especially for use as an attachment in connecticn with printing machines or presses. As iswell known to those skilledin the art of printing the form used in many instances is so excessively heavy as to require the services of several men for lifting the form and placing it' on the press or its bed. The space available for use by the men is limited and the danger of dropping the form and pieing the type is always present.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of means which may be. operated and controlled by one man for lifting and placing the form in position on its bed without danger of accident when proper care is observed in manipulating the lifting mechanism.

To this end the invention consists in a lift mechanism which when not in use may be stowed or stored out of the way and is readily accessible when required for use. The inventionembodies an attachment supported from the press frame and includes a carrier for the form, means for lifting the carrier and means for supporting or guiding the form as it is being lift-ed, together with certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged ac cording to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view in. elevation showing the lifting mechanism applied to a printing machine frame, in position for use with a printing form shown in dotted lines ready to be lifted. V

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1, illustrating by dotted lines the lifting movement of the form.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the carrier and its connections, at line 33 Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view at one end of the operating part of the lifting mechanism, indicating by dotted lines the mechanism stowed or stored out of the Way when not in use. 1

In order that the general arrangement and Renewed August 11, 1926.

In carrying out my invention I utilize a:

carrier which extends transversely of the press and is adapted tobe supported on the floor at one end of the press for the reception of the form 2 preparatory to lifting the form into place. The carrier is in the form of a straight metallic bar or body 3, which is provided near its respective ends with supporting feet or blocks 4, a which not only "perform the function of supportingthe carrier on the floor, but also add weight to the carrier in order that a stable support nay be provided for the form as it is being lifted.

In its upper face the carrier is fashioned with a longitudinally extending groove 5, open at both ends and forming a pair of parallel retaining. ribs or flanges 6, 6, between which the form is supported in the groove.

The form may he slid intothe groove from one end of the carrierand positioned (indicated in Flgures 1 and 2) between the guide flanges 6, 6, and as the carrier is llfted or elevated the form is supported and guided to position where it can readily be placed on the bed of the press, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

For lifting the carrier I provide a hoist mechanism supported from the press-frame 1 by means of a pair of hangers or brackets 7 and 8 which are bolted at the underside of the feed table or other suitable portion of the prmting press. A winding roll 9 and its shaft'10 are journaled in bearing slots 11 of .the hangers 7 and 8, and a ratchet wheel 12 on the shaft and pawl 13 pivoted on one of the hangers are used to control rotation of the shaft and its roll 9. A hand wheel 14 and knob 15 are affixed at one end of the shaft for rotating the roll and it's shaft in the bearing slots 11.

A duplex hoisting cable is affixed as at 16 to the longitudinal center of the winding roll and its ends 17 and 18 diverge downwardly therefrom and are passed through eyes or apertures 19 that extend transversely through the body oi. carrier pre'tcrably at the enlarged portions or feet 4- of the carrier, The upper walls of these apertures or chorin straps or hands 20, tishioned preftures 19 of the carrier.

erably of metal and secured thereto as at 21. These annular bands or straps encircle the spaced grooved portions 22 of a supporting and guide roller 23 which is provided with a shaft 24 that is journaled in open bearing slots 25 of bearing brackets .26 bolted to the press frame 1.

As the winding roll or drum 9 is turned by means of the hand wheel it will be apparent that the winding action of the cable will lift the carrier from the floor as the two branches of the cable slip through the aper- The weight of the form and that of the carrier is sutlicient to stabilize the movement of the atrrier as it is being lifted, and the form, which res s near its upper end against the roller 23, is lifted, and guided by its sliding contact with the roller 23 to position where it may readily be transferred to the bed of the pre 1.

When not required for use the mechanism may be stowed or stored away by bodily litting the roller 23 and its shaft from the hearing slots 25 of the brackets 26. The ends of the shaft may then be placed in auxiliary slots .27 (Fig. 4) of the hangers 7 and S, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4:. After the roller is thus stored away the hand wheel 14 may be turned to wind the cable and elevate the carrier to position between and run der the two rolls or rollers 9 and 23, where the mechanism is readily accessible for further use when needed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with a printing press t 'aine eta-winding roll and manually operated means therefor, of a hoist cable and anchoring means for its ends, and a for1n-carrier suspended with a slipping engagement on said cable.

22. The. combination with a support of a lii'ting mechanism comprising a hoist roll and a cable secured thereto, and anchoring means for the diverging ends of said cable, and a carrier suspended on the diverging portions of the cable and adapted to slide with relation to the cable.

3. In a form liftingmechanism the combination with a carrier having spaced apertu res therein, of a duplex-cable having a slip engagement with the apertured carrier, a stationary guide roller, and means for anclioring the ends of the duplex cable on said guide roller.

1. In a. form lifting mechanism the combination with a carrier having a forin-supporting groove in its upper face and spaced, transverse openings therein, of a hoisting rolland a cable secured thereto, said cable having duplicate portions passing through said openings a guide roller, and means on said gmde roller "for anchoring the cabletherein for slipping engagement with said cable.

.In testimony whet-col .l ailix my signature.

.RLMSERT J. SIMS. 

